Many Reasons to be Thankful

As the year is winding down and the reality of single digit temperatures will soon be here to stay, I find myself reflecting on the year gone by. As I reflect, I am filled with gratitude for so many reasons. I am in a word, thankful. For those who know me best, it will go without saying that I am eternally grateful for the patience and understanding of my amazing wife and my precious daughters as this “job” of Mayor has demanded so much of my time over the last three years. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity you, the public have provided me to serve you. People often ask me how I like being mayor, and my response is always the same. I tell them “This is the most challenging position I have ever held. It is the most gratifying position I have ever held. It is a labor of love.” I don’t mind sharing with you that this position can at times exact a heavy toll from my personal life. At the exact same time, this position encourages and nourishes my soul in far too many ways to recount. Eagle Mountain City has come so far since the year of our incorporation in 1996. I believe that today, we are the absolute best version of Eagle Mountain that has ever existed. Which leads me to one of the many reasons I am thankful this Thanksgiving Eve. My role of Mayor of Eagle Mountain has provided me with so many unique experiences and opportunities. I am one member of an organization of amazing people who love the work they do and who more often than not, go above and beyond in an effort to serve the public. The work is seldom easy, the recognition seldom forthcoming, though the pride of knowing we have done our absolute best to serve the public is reward enough. We have worked very hard over the last three years to place ourselves in a position of financial strength. I am grateful that today we are able to enjoy the fruits of those labors. This year we have seen the completion of many long desired projects which would not have been possible only a few years ago. The best part is that we are just getting started and we now have the resources to see the work continued. Rather than rely on words, perhaps pictures can tell the story better. In the top row you will see pictures of the new restrooms installed at Walden Park and Pioneer Park. Though not pictured, one additional restroom has been built at Smith Ranch. The top center picture is looking down the brand new extension of Bobby Wren Blvd. on the east side of Pony Express. This project also included completion of a trail along the entirety of Bobby Wren from Pioneer Addition to Eagle Park on the west side of Pony Express. The bottom row pictures start with the brand new (and beautiful) infield dirt at the Cory Wride Memorial Park baseball complex. You will also see a picture of the trail along Pony Express. Every square foot of trail in City Center and The Ranches has now received seal coat as a preventative maintenance measure. You will also see a shade structure which has been built at the bike park. An identical structure has been built at Nolen Park. Of course there has also been plenty of road improvements this year as we continue working our way through our preventative maintenance plan. Stone walls, pillars, and iron fencing are under the final stages of construction at the cemetery, and work is now starting on the center medians to convert all spray irrigation to drip along Pony Express. This project has been in the planning stages for quite some time and will see the first phase which will cover the majority of the center medians along Pony Express in The Ranches, completed in the late spring. This design will be a step in the right direction toward water conservation while maintaining a high aesthetic standard. We are now working on identifying a contractor to build phase 1A of Cory Wride Memorial Park. This build will include ample parking, completion of the baseball complex with shade sails, grandstands, restrooms, snack shack, maintenance shed, announcers booth, playground, and landscaping. Planning is well underway for phase 1B of Cory Wride Memorial Park which will include multiple play structures for children of all abilities. Here is the best part of it all. The entirety of these projects and many others already planned will be paid for in cash. That’s right, all cash, no debt! Our current circumstances didn’t happen on accident. It has taken a tremendous amount of intentional effort. For all the staff, council, and community volunteers that have helped get us to this point, I am thankful. God bless you and may you have a most thankful thanksgiving!